10 key take aways of the Mobile Inelastic Neutron Scattering demonstration

On the 17th of July, CAS and the USDA National Soil Dynamics Laboratory held a live demonstration of the Mobile Inelastic Neutron Scattering (MINS) Technology – the CAS’ patented technology that brings unmatched accurate soil testing to the field. For those who didn’t make it, we summed up 10 key take aways from the Mobile Inelastic Neutron Scattering Demonstration.

Why CAS, USDA and MINS?

Carbon Asset Solutions (or CAS) has commercialised and patented the innovative soil testing technology that rests on the strong research foundations of the USDA Nationals Soil Dynamics Laboratory. The result is a mobile soil testing laboratory that comes to the field and measures soil with unmatched accuracy, unprecedented speed, yet without intervening with it. No soil is taken to the lab, the lab – the MINS unit – hovers over the field and maps out critical soil indicators from texture to mineralisation. As a result, the soil’s “fingerprint” is mapped at the atomic level, which enables land managers to work with their soil. Optimising their practices to the specific soil characteristics rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

Therefore, the two partners came together and demonstrated to the audience what this unmatched accurate soil mapping means for land managers. Here are 10 key take aways from the Mobile Inelastic Neutron Scattering Demonstration.

5 Key take aways

1️⃣ One of the greatest untapped assets in our world that can solve different convergent crises – from soil degradation to agri-food supply chain pressures and climate – is right under our feet: soil.

2️⃣ Accurate and immediate soil knowledge enables management and derisks investments and operations, for the farmer and investors.

3️⃣ The soil measurement MINS technology is innovative, ánd robustly based in more than a decade of research, and aligned with the international ISO standards by Carbon Asset Solutions.

4️⃣ Each atom in the soil has its own signature; when activated they respond in their own unique matter, enabling us to map soil at the atomic level.

5️⃣ An atomic level of soil understanding is the key to effective and efficient soil management. The inherent variability of soil requires Precision Ag rather than a one-technique-fits-all.

And 5 more

6️⃣ Precision and accuracy are not the same. Precision refers to the repeatability of the measurement, while accuracy refers to how close the measurement is to its true value. MINS technology enables high precision and high accuracy. It measures soil carbon with 80% higher accuracy than traditional methods.

7️⃣ About 40 traditional core soil samples would have to be taken per field to equal the MINS accuracy.

8️⃣ Precision Ag can target resources more efficiently and maximise the potential of high-yield potential areas, while mitigating the risks and losses of low-yield potential areas.

9️⃣ Soil carbon is a key indicator of soil health. Different mapped soil metrics show a correlation between soil carbon, soil moisture, and others.

🔟 When soil carbon increases, many other key characteristics of healthy soil increase as well, including soil water holding capacity, infiltration rate, structure, and biological activity, … and this could all lead to increased farming income. Hence, soil carbon should be the fundamental soil measurement to determine soil management zones.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, the 10 key take aways from the Mobile Inelastic Neutron Scattering demonstration illustrate that soil management starts with accurate measurement. For your convenience, CAS brings this innovative technology, founded in robust research of the USDA, to your field. Connect with us to find out how the MINS can help you or watch the full recording here.